terclim by ICS banner
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Heatwaves and grapevine yield in the Douro region, crop model simulations

Heatwaves and grapevine yield in the Douro region, crop model simulations

Abstract

Heatwaves or extreme heat events can be particularly harmful to agriculture. Grapevines grown in the Douro winemaking region are particularly exposed to this threat, due to the specificities of the already warm and dry climatic conditions. Furthermore, climate change simulations point to an increase in the frequency of occurrence of these extreme heat events, therefore posing a major challenge to winegrowers in the Mediterranean type climates. The current study focuses on the application of the STICS crop model to assess the potential impacts of heatwaves in grapevine yields over the Douro valley winemaking region. For this purpose, STICS was applied to grapevines using high-resolution weather, soil and terrain datasets over the Douro. To assess the impact of heatwaves, the weather dataset (1989-2005) was artificially modified, generating periods with anomalously high temperatures (+5 ºC), at certain onset dates and with specific durations (from 5 to 9 days). The model was run with this modified weather dataset and results were compared to the original unmodified runs. The results show that heatwaves can have a very strong impact on grapevine yields, strongly depending on the onset dates and duration of the heatwaves. The highest negative impacts may result in a decrease in the yield by up to -35% in some regions. Despite some uncertainties inherent to the current modelling assessment, the present study highlights the negative impacts of heatwaves on viticultural yields in the Douro region, which is critical information for stakeholders within the winemaking sector for planning suitable adaptation measures.

DOI:

Publication date: May 31, 2022

Issue: Terclim 2022

Type: Poster

Authors

Helder Fraga1, João Santos1, Nicolo Clemente1, Teresa R. Freitas1, Aureliano Malheiro1, José Moutinho-Pereira1, Henrique Trindade1, Lia Dinis1, João Cerejeira2, Rita Sousa2, Cristina Carlos1,3, Igor Gonçalves3, Natacha Fontes4, António Graça4, Domingos Lopes1,5 and Aida Carvalho5,6

1Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, CITAB, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
2NIPE Centre for Research in Economics and Management, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
3Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Viticultura Duriense, Edifício Centro de Excelência da Vinha e do Vinho Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia de Vila Real, Régia Douro Park, Portugal
4Sogrape Vinhos S.A., Avintes, Portugal
5Fundação Côa Parque, Vila Nova de Foz Côa, Portugal 
6Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, CiTUR, Bragança, Portugal

Contact the author

Keywords

heat waves, viticulture, yield, Douro, Portugal, climate change

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Terclim 2022

Citation

Related articles…

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as biomarkers of vineyard yield in Champagne

The vine is colonized by a multitude of micro-organisms (fungi, bacteria, oomycetes) mainly coming from the microbial reservoir constituted by the soil. These microorganisms have positive or negative effects on the vine (protection against pathogens, resistance to abiotic stress, nutrition, but also triggering of diseases) (Fournier, Pellan et al. 2022). In addition to these functional roles, they respond quickly to environmental changes (climate, cultural practices) which could make them good bioindicators of the functioning of the wine ecosystem.

Read More

European consumer preference for wines made from fungus resistant grape varieties

Fungus resistant grape varieties (FRGV or PIWI) offer many benefits such as less pesticide use or premium prices for enhanced sustainability. Still, winemakers are concerned about inferior wine quality. This study evaluates how European wine consumers assess wines made from new FRGVs in comparison to traditional V. vinifera varieties. Most of them were grown in the same vineyard. Four white (Calardis Blanc, Muscaris, Sauvignac, Cabernet Blanc) und three red (Satin Noir, Cabernet Cortis, Laurot) FRGV were compared to Riesling, Sauvignon blanc, Muskateller, Cab. Sauvignon and Merlot. For each FRGV, different styles were vinified using standardized protocols.

Read More

GRAPE SPIRITS FOR PORT WINE PRODUCTION: SCREENING THEIR AROMA PROFILE

Port is a fortified wine, produced from grapes grown in the demarcated Douro region. The fortification process consists in the addition of a grape spirit (77% v/v) to the fermenting juice for fermentation interruption, resulting in remaining residual sugars in the wine and increased alcohol content (19-22%). The approval of grape spirits follows the Appellation (D.O. Port wine) rules1 and it is currently carried out based on analytical control and on sensory evaluation done by the public Institute that upholds the control of the quality of Douro Appellation wines. However, the producers of Port wines would like to have more information about quality markers of grape spirits.

Read More

A zoning study of the viticultural territory of a cooperative winery in Valpolicella

The Valpolicella hilly area, north of Verona, is highly vocated for viticulture but its vineyards are sometimes characterized by very different soil and microclimate conditions which can greatly affect their oenological potential.

Read More

Typology of Terroirs around the world

It seems implausible that the geographical development of the vineyards could have been affected by a shift in the positions of the Earth’continents

Read More